Freeborn County, Minnesota

Early Settlement

The first Norwegian settlers in Freeborn County were Even Nelson of Nes in Hedemark and Ole Gulbranson, who established their homes at Albert Lea in 1855.

They were soon followed by Rollef Thykesen, Gunner Thykesen, Stener Mikkelsen, and Ole O. Kleppe, all from Telemark, together with Nels Nelson Wangen of Voss. They settled in the vicinity of Manchester on June 15, 1856.

Later that same year, Thor Anderson, Anders Evenson, Ole Kittelson, Ole Petterson Slette, and Halvor Petterson Slette of Sigdal, O. O. Fossum and Peder Fossum of Telemark, and Anders Lybeck of Krødsherad also settled near Manchester. At that time the region remained largely unsettled, with Native communities still living throughout the area and wildlife abundant. Albert Lea, now a substantial city, then consisted of only two log cabins.

Halvor Opsahl of Hjartdal, Telemark, became the first Norwegian settler in the Bath area in 1857.

That same year, Lars Torkelsen of Sigdal, Torsten Eriksen of Eggedal, Thore Hoff of Hallingdal, and Lars Nilsen, Nils Nilsen, and Isak Johnson of Hedemark settled in the vicinity of Knatvold.

Other Norwegians who arrived in 1857 included Guttorm Bottolfsen, Anders Bottolfsen, Johannes Hermundsen, and Anders Syversen Sjelve of Vik in Sogn; Charley Pedersen of Hakedalen; Anders Olsen of Luster; Christopher Mikkelsen of Nannestad; Peder Lunde and Endre Gulbrandsen of Ådalen; the brothers Ole and Torstein Morheim of Telemark; Ole Narveson and Ole Barnaas of Sogndal; Ole Styve Sr., his son O. O. Styve, and Ole Mittun of Voss; and Bjørn Atlesen Øen, whose birthplace was unknown to the author. The report does not specify where these settlers established their homes, although it appears that many settled in the vicinity of Hayward.

The first Norwegian settler in the Freeborn area was Syvert Olsen of Numedal. In the vicinity of Emmons, the first was H. G. Emmons of Eggedal, for whom the post office was later named.

Pioneer Life

Most of the county's earliest Norwegian settlers had first lived for a short time in Wisconsin before moving west in small wagon trains and establishing communities, usually near wooded areas. Their nearest markets were Winona, Minnesota, and McGregor, Iowa, both about one hundred miles away. Butter and meat were among their principal products for sale.

A. N. Teslow of Hayward concluded one of his letters with the observation:

"The first years here were filled with mosquitoes, snakes, and other hardships that often placed our lives in danger. Yet my wife and I are still here, both seventy-seven years old."

One of the earliest settlements was established in Newry Township in 1856 by the brothers Knut, Syver, and Bennet Benson of Hemsedal, together with Helge Olsen Otterdokken of Gol and Jens Amundsen of Næs in Hallingdal.

One of the pioneers there, T. A. Halvig, recalled:

"At that time Indians were numerous here as well as in the surrounding country, and they were greatly feared, especially by the women and children when left alone at home. The men had to travel to town from time to time, and such journeys usually took two weeks. They probably went to Winona to sell their produce and purchase supplies, but when grain needed to be milled they often had to travel much farther into Iowa. If winter lasted longer than expected, it sometimes became necessary to grind grain in coffee mills."

Notable Recollections

Perhaps the county's most widely traveled Norwegian pioneer was Andreas Sandersen of Hayward. After spending three years in Wisconsin following his emigration from Norway, he joined the California gold rush. Traveling by sea around Cape Horn, he eventually reached California.

What success he had as a gold miner is unknown. Afterward he and a companion carried their belongings on their backs and walked to San Francisco, then still little more than a frontier settlement. From there they continued north through Sacramento, Oregon, Washington Territory, and part of British Columbia. Tacoma did not yet exist, and Victoria consisted of only three fishing families. After four years and five months of travel, Sandersen returned by way of the Isthmus of Panama and eventually settled in Minnesota.

Churches and Community Life

Jackson Lake Congregation, organized at Delavan in 1862 by Pastor B. J. Muus of the Norwegian Synod, was the first Norwegian congregation in the county. Its church was completed in 1870.

By about 1907, Freeborn County was home to thirteen Norwegian congregations served by nine churches. Five congregations belonged to the Norwegian Synod, four to the United Church, three to Hauge's Synod, and one to Elling Eielsen's Society.

Ole J. Ellingsen was the first Norwegian to hold public office in the county, having been elected County Treasurer in 1860.

T. G. Johnsrud of Ådalen became the first Norwegian to represent Freeborn County in the Minnesota State Legislature when he was elected in 1872.

Several Norwegian-language newspapers were published in Albert Lea. Søndre Minnesota Tidende and Albert Lea Skandinav were both short-lived publications. Signalet, a Baptist newspaper, was also published there.

Luther Academy, a Norwegian educational institution, was established in Albert Lea in 1888.

Post offices bearing Norwegian names included Knatvold, Emmons, and Lerdal (Lærdal).

Sources:

[Ulvestad, Martin. Nordmændene i Amerika. Utg. History Book Company's Forlag. Minneapolis, Minn. 1907.]